Effective Co-generation of opposite and forward waves in cyclotron-resonance masers

A novel type of the frequency-tunable oscillator based on simultaneous generation of the forward and opposite waves at the same frequency, but at different cyclotron harmonics, is proposed. A spatially periodic helical electron beam allows for strong coupling of the waves. The opposite wave provides the broadband feedback and electron bunching, whereas the forward wave amplifies the arising signal and withdraws the rf power from the interaction region. A 15% efficiency and 5% frequency bandwidth have been achieved in the first experiment.